Stroud District Council election - candidate profiles – Stonehouse

Each party candidate will give voters information about who they are, what their pledges are and why you should vote for them.

These profiles will be posted alphabetically by ward over the next week.

Today we feature Severn, Stonehouse, Stroud Central, Farmhill and Paganhill, Slade and Trinity.

Look back at previous articles throughout the week for wards A-R.

Stonehouse - There are nine candidates standing in this ward, with three seats up for grabs.

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• Ray Clegg - Conservative

Having spent 12 years in the armed forces I have forged a career in Business and am currently a Director of a medium sized transport company.

I believe passionately that local traders are the lifeblood of any community and also believe in closer engagement with local people and creating an environment where people feel involved in the decisions being made that affect their day to day lives within the local community.

We have been listening to many of the Stonehouse High Street businesses to understand their challenges and what support they need to help them grow their business.

I love the community I live in and want it to help to fulfil its potential.

As a Stonehouse resident you will have three votes to use. Please use these to vote for all three of your Conservative candidates.

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• Ginny Smart – Conservative

Having lived in the Stonehouse area throughout my life and attending Maidenhill secondary school, I feel that my local knowledge of the town and district will enable me to make decisions based upon fact and communication with the community.

I am passionate about working with the younger members of the community and engaging with them, showing them how they can improve their education and employability and how they can get involved in making a difference within their community.

I am also committed to making Stonehouse one of the best areas with the Stroud district with recycling and reducing food waste especially with the new waste contract due to begin soon.

I am fully committed to the community and helping people fulfil themselves and improve the area they live within.

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• Aaron Newell – Conservative

I spent most of my childhood in Cheltenham and have resided in Stroud District for the last 13 years with my wife and two daughters ages seven and nine.

I run a family furniture and flooring business with my sister and have a shop in Cheltenham and are opening another in Cirencester so am well aware of the needs of the High Street and small business I am a keen ultra-runner and sports enthusiast.

I am looking forward to representing Stonehouse with Ginny Smart and Ray Clegg, so please use your three votes to vote Conservative.

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• Trevor Baker - Independent

I am Stonehouse born and bred, living in the town all my life. I have previous experience in local government being a Stroud District Councillor during the 1990's.

I served on the planning committee, was a spokesperson on financial matters and deputy leader of the council for a number of years. I previously worked for an ex Member of Parliament.

Over the next few years, I believe Stroud District Council will have to significantly increase council tax or make substantial redundancies at Ebley Mill.

I will be firmly on the side of making redundancies as I consider much of what local government does to be of little benefit to the human race. I will oppose the introduction of any new charges and any increase in council tax.

I would urge white collar public sector employees not to vote for me as I won’t be working for their best interests.

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• Ciaran-James Brazington – Independent

I am 29, born and bred in Stonehouse. I am standing as an Independent on May 5.

I decided to stand as I feel that it is time for younger people to step up and become more involved in local government.

Many young people I have spoken to feel it's not about the local population any more at District, Town and Parish level. They feel they come second to political manifestos.

The only promise I will make is to be the "Voice of the Voiceless" for Stonehouse.

If elected- I will always vote based on what is best for the people of my Town. I hope that the residents of Stonehouse will feel free to talk to me about their concerns and I will make sure their voice is heard at Stroud District Council.

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• Mattie Ross – Labour and Co-operative Party

Mattie moved to Stonehouse in the 70’s, her children went to school and grew up here: she loves living here.

She’s a woman who's always worked for her community: setting up a playgroup, school governor, WRVS meals on wheels, running the Lunch Club.

She’s worked with many organisations (Stonehouse in Bloom, the Town Partnership, the Horticultural Show etc) and for countless individuals, working hard for the town as Councillor and Mayor.

She’s got improvements to council housing, including renewable energy, and now the first new council houses for a generation.

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• Chris Brine - Labour and Co-operative Party

Chris has lived here for 30 years, proud to be a Stonehouse resident.

Married, with three children and four grand-children, he runs his own business as a training professional.

Chris has a commitment and passion for the town - he’s served as town & district councillor and as Mayor, as a voice for Stonehouse.

Over twenty years he’s worked with local organisations, schools and young people (influential in getting the new Youth Club).

A founder member of the Town Partnership, he's helped many individuals, especially with planning.

He’s just got a defibrillator installed in the High Street with the Rotary and Co-op.

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• Gary Powell - Labour and Co-operative Party

Gary has lived all his life in Stonehouse and has served his community as Town and District Councillor.

He’s married to Lin, with a grown-up family and grandchildren. Gary is a co-founder of the Stonehouse Horticultural show and plays a key role in the life of Stonehouse, from keeping our High Street flower displays planted and watered to getting improvements for young people at Oldends Lane.

Gary has a long record of working with the scouts and youth football teams. He wants to make sure we get decent housing for all, to keep attracting jobs and employers and to support our High Street shops.

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• Carol Kambites – Green Party

I live on Onaway on the Rosedale estate in Stonehouse with my husband. Andrew. I have two grown up sons and four grandchildren.

I have been a member of Stonehouse Town Council for five years and I chair the Regeneration and Environment Committee on that Council.

I enjoy cultivating my allotment, walking and cycling and I am the Chair of Stonehouse Wheelers Cycling Club as well as the Treasurer of Stroud Cycle Campaign.

I am also a trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureau and a ‘friend’ of Stroud Valleys Project. I have worked as a teacher and as an academic but I’m now retired.

I‘m very concerned about the type of world my grandchildren will inherit. I’m unashamedly both an environmentalist and a socialist.

I’m very angry about Government policies on education, the health service and local government. A combination of shortage of funding and ideologically driven policies is threatening to destroy much of what is good about our society. At the same time, lack of action on climate change and support for fracking threatens to destroy our environment.

I’m particularly concerned about the vitality of the High Street in an era when many people buy either from supermarkets or on the internet. In the coming years, we will also have to deal with the effects of the West of Stonehouse development.